ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Culture
2.95 crore released for ‘Gandhi Encyclopedia’ for promotion of appropriate Gandhian philosophy: Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
The Government is developing ‘Gandhi Encyclopedia’ to spread awareness in the society.
Ministry of Culture has approved a project for development of Gandhi Paedia by National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata for promotion of appropriate Gandhian philosophy and thoughts through social media platforms under 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi commemoration with financial assistance of Rs. 5.25 cr and released an amount of Rs. 2.95 cr against first installment.
This information was given by the Minister of State  of Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the demise of former Union Minister, Shri Manikrao Gavit
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former Union Minister, Shri Manikrao Gavit.
The Prime Minister Office tweeted;
"Saddened by the passing away of former Union Minister Shri Manikrao Gavit Ji. He was one of the most experienced Parliamentarians and he made many efforts for the empowerment of tribal communities. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti: PM @narendramodi"
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal emphasizes importance of PM Gati Shakti for removal of all bottlenecks and timely completion of Projects
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has emphasized the importance of PM Gati Shakti for removal of all bottlenecks and timely completion of Projects as it aims at linking all the organisations like Road, Railways among others. Inaugurating the Mobile Container Scanner facility and Sagarmala convention hall at Visakhapatnam Port  today he said in today’s competitive world the best out of the best will succeed. Shri Sonowal highlighted the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister on Sagarmala Projects. He said, most proposals submitted by Andhra Pradesh were sanctioned and Government is always ready to render any assistance for the development of the State .
Shri Sonowal inaugurated projects with an investment of Rs. 55 Crore. He Inaugurated the Mobile Container Scanner set up by the Port to scan the containers for radioactive materials at an estimated cost of Rs.30 Crore and Sagarmala Convention Hall at Salagramapuram at an estimated cost of Rs.25 Crore for the welfare of the employees of the Port in the presence of Sri K. Rama Mohana Rao, Chairman, VPT and Sri Durgesh Dubey ,Deputy Chairman.
The Minister visited Port through launch drive accompanied by the Chairman and Senior officials of the Port. During the launch trip, various initiatives taken by Port were discussed. Shri Sonowal also planted a tree as a part of encouraging green initiatives. During this financial year, VPT has spent an amount of Rs. 4 Crore for 4.5 lakhs of avenue plantation, apart from various other green initiatives.
Ministry of Power
Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director, IEA calls on Power Minister Shri RK Singh
Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency  called on Shri RK Singh, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy  and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship here today. Various issues came up for discussion during the meeting including shift towards Electric Vehicles, renewable energy and battery & hydrogen storage.
Dr. Birol appreciated the efforts made for energy access under Saubhagya scheme and for energy efficiency under UJALA scheme. “Your achievements in energy access and in distribution of LED bulbs are amazing and a big success story”, he said adding “It changes the people’s lives”.
PIB Headquarters
Special Passport Mela at Vellore on April 21
Regional Passport Office, Chennai will be holding ‘Special Passport Mela’ on Saturday the April 21st 2018 at Post Office Passport Seva Kendra , Vellore. The mela is being conducted to meet the public demand and to facilitate submission of applications for the frequent travelers due to extended time in getting appointments.
Post Office Passport Seva Kendra, at Vellore will function on Saturday the April 21st 2018 like any other normal working day and accept applications as per time slots allotted to the applicants. Approximately 120 applicants are expected to be benefitted from this Mela.
To participate in this Passport Mela, all applicants have to log on to the official website ‘www.passportindia.gov.in’, register on-line, generate ‘ARN’ , and pay online fees and then fix an appointment. Applicants participating in the mela should bring the print-out of ARN with appointment derails, to the POPSK along with the requisite documents in originals, plus one set of self attested photocopies. Applications under fresh and Re-issue categories only will be accepted.
The appointments will be released online on 18th April 2018  at 1430 hrs for the mela to take place on Saturday, April 21st 2018. On the day of mela, applications will be accepted only as per the time slot allotted to them. Applications for PCCs, Walk-ins including On-Hold and Refused Tokens will not be entertained during the Mela.
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays tributes to first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had paid tributes to first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary.
“Remembering our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. We recall his contribution to our freedom struggle and during his tenure as Prime Minister”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah approves release of Rs.6,194.40 crore to 19 State Governments under the State Disaster Response Fund 
The Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has already approved release of Rs.3649.40 crore as Central share of SDRF to 09 States during year 2023-24
Based on 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the Central Government, has allocated Rs.1,28,122.40 crore for SDRF for years 2021-22 to 2025-26
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today approved release of Rs.6,194.40 crore to 19 State Governments under the State Disaster Response Fund .
The amount includes Rs.1,209.60 crore as Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund  to four States  for year 2022-23 and Rs.4,984.80 crore to 15 States  for year 2023-24. The release of funds will help States undertake relief measures during the current Monsoon season.
The Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has already approved release of Rs.3649.40 crore as Central share of SDRF to 09 States during year 2023-24. Based on 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the Central Government, has allocated Rs.1,28,122.40 crore for SDRF for years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Ministry of Textiles
Scheme for Powerloom Sector
The Government is implementing Group Workshed Scheme for Powerloom sector under PowerTex India with an aim to establish Group Worksheds for installation of modern looms in an existing or new cluster, which will provide required scale of economies for business operations and to organize powerloom units in a cluster and to provide improved working condition in terms of more space, work environment, improve the work efficiency to enhance their competitiveness in the global market.
Yes, Sir. The Government launched PowerTex India, a comprehensive scheme for Powerloom sector development with effect from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 , modifying the old Group Workshed Scheme under Integrated Scheme for Powerloom Sector Schemes  which was in operation from 1.4.2012 to 31.03.2017. Eligible beneficiaries under the modified scheme include weaver and entrepreneur associated with powerloom units, including master weaver, registered co-operative societies of powerloom weavers or any new entrepreneur individually or in-group.
State-wise number of Powerloom Industry benefited under GWSS for the last three years is as under: -

|
|
S.No
|
|
State
|
|
2017-18 to 2019-20
|
|
Projects sanctioned
|
|
units
|
|
1.
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
99
|
|
633
|
|
2.
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
14
|
|
67
|
|
3.
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
01
|
|
04
|
|
4.
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
01
|
|
06
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
115
|
|
710
The details of the amount released and spent by the Government under this scheme for the last three years is as under: -
|
|
S. No.
|
|
Year
|
|
Govt. of India share released and Spent|
|
1
|
|
2017-18
|
|
21.53
|
|
2
|
|
2018-19
|
|
7.64
|
|
3
|
|
2019-20
|
|
25.97
|
|
Total
|
|
55.14Including funds released to the completed and installments for ongoing projects.
In order to improve the conditions of Powerloom wavers and for holistic growth of Powerloom sector, the Government has launched PowerTex India, a comprehensive Scheme for Powerloom Sector Development w.e.f. 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 . The components of the scheme are  Insitu Upgradation of Plain Powerloom,  Group Workshed Scheme,  Yarn Bank,  Common Facility Centre,  Solar Energy Scheme,  Pradhan Mantri Credit Scheme,  Tex Venture Fund,  Grant-in-aid & modernization of Powerloom Service Centres and  Facilitation and Information Technology.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM shares Union Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur 's article
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared an article titled 'India’s youth brings hope to an uncertain world' written by the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur.
The Prime Minister's office tweeted;
"India’s youth brings hope to an uncertain world, writes Union Minister @ianuragthakur... Do read!
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/speaking…
via NaMo App"
Ministry of Electronics & IT
CERT-In authorized as CVE Numbering Authority  for vulnerabilities impacting all products designed, developed and manufactured in India
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team  has been undertaking responsible vulnerability disclosure and coordination for vulnerabilities reported to CERT-In in accordance to its vulnerability coordination role as a National CERT since its inception. To move a step further in the direction to strengthen trust in “Make in India” as well as to nurture responsible vulnerability research in the country, CERT-In has partnered with the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures  Program. In this regard, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team  has been authorized by the CVE Program, as a CVE Numbering Authority  for vulnerabilities impacting all products designed, developed and manufactured in India.
CVE is an international, community-based effort and relies on the community to discover vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities are discovered then assigned and published to the CVE List. Information technology and cybersecurity professionals use CVE Records to ensure they are discussing the same issue, and to coordinate their efforts to prioritize and address the vulnerabilities.
The mission of the CVE Program is to identify, define, and catalog publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. It is an international, community-based effort and relies on the community to discover vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities are discovered then assigned and published by organizations from around the world that have partnered with the CVE Program. Partners publish CVE Records to communicate consistent descriptions of vulnerabilities.
CNAs are organizations responsible for the regular assignment of CVE IDs to vulnerabilities, and for creating and publishing information about the Vulnerability in the associated CVE Record. The CVE List is built by CVE Numbering Authorities . Every CVE Record added to the list is assigned by a CNA. The CVE Records published in the catalog enable program stakeholders to rapidly discover and correlate vulnerability information used to protect systems against attacks. Each CNA has a specific Scope of responsibility for vulnerability identification and publishing.
To disclose vulnerability to CERT-In or to learn more about responsible disclosure process, visit CERT-In website @ https://www.cert-in.org.in/RVDCP.jsp .
RKJ/M
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Use of Plastic Waste in Roads/Highways Construction
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued guidelines for use of plastic waste in wearing course of National Highways on pilot basis. The plastic waste has been used in the state of Tamil Nadu for about 11 Km length and about 1 Km length in the state of Kerala.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Cabinet approves MoU on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block Chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Exim Bank under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding  on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Export-Import Bank of India  with the participating member banks, under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism namely Banco Nacional de DesenvolvimentoEconomico e Social , China Development Bank , State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs  and Development Bank of Southern Africa .
Major Impact
Distributed Ledger/Block chain technology holds potential for solutions to various challenges being faced in the financial sector space of the BRICS nations. The MoU intends to enhance understanding of Distributed Ledger/Block Chain technology, through the joint research efforts to identify areas within respective business operations where it may have the potential for applications aimed at enhancing the operational efficiencies.
Background:
The Xiamen Declaration signed in China on digital economy by the BRICS leaders had highlighted the importance of the digital economy and how the BRICS nations could leverage the thriving and dynamic digital economy that will foster global economic development and benefit everyone. Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding  on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the Context of the Development of the Digital Economy was suggested to be inked by all member banks.
Ministry of Steel
Demand of Steel and Metals
The rapid urbanization is likely to increase demand of steel and metals in the country. The production of Finished Steel in year 2020-21 was 96.20 million tonnes  as compared to production of 102.62 MT in year 2019-20. The details of production and demand of Finished Steel in last two years are as under:-
Quantity in million tonnes
|
|
Item
|
|
2019-20
|
|
2020-21
|
|
Production
|
|
102.62
|
|
96.20
|
|
Consumption
|
|
100.17
|
|
94.89
Source: Joint Plant Committee 
Details of production of Finished Steel and Metals in 2019-20 and 2020-21 are given as follows:-
Quantity in million tonnes
|
|
Year
|
|
Finished Steel
|
|
2019-20
|
|
102.62
|
|
2020-21
|
|
96.20
Source: Joint Plant Committee 
Quantity in lakh tonnes
|
|
Year
|
|
Aluminium
|
|
Refined Copper
|
|
Zinc
|
|
Lead
|
|
2019-20
|
|
36.56
|
|
4.08
|
|
6.88
|
|
1.81
|
|
2020-21
|
|
36.16
|
|
3.64
|
|
7.15
|
|
2.14
Source: Ministry of Mines
The Government has taken following measures for the growth of steel sector in the country:-
- Notification of the following policies:-
-
- National Steel Policy 2017 which envisages inter-alia domestically meeting the entire demand of steel and high-grade automotive steel, electrical steel, special steel and alloys for strategic applications.
- Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products  Policy for promoting procurement of Made in India steel.
- Steel Scrap Recycling Policy to enhance the availability of domestically generated scrap.
- Steel Import Monitoring System  for advanced registration of steel imports.
- Production-Linked Incentive  Scheme for Specialty Steel with an outlay of ₹ 6,322 Cror
- Issuance of Steel Quality Control Order to stop manufacturing and import of non-standardized steel.
- Engagement with steel producers including industry associations and leaders of domestic steel industry to address their issues by the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and State Governments.
- Engagement with potential users, including from Railways, Defence, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing, Civil Aviation, Road Transport and Highways, Agriculture and Rural Development sectors to enhance the steel usage and overall demand for steel in the country.
- Establishment of Project Development Cell in the Ministry to attract and facilitate investment in the steel sector.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Steel Shri Ram Chandra Prasad Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates Mirabai Chanu on winning gold at World Weightlifting Championship
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Ms. Mirabai Chanu on winning gold at the World Weightlifting Championship.
“India is proud of Mirabai Chanu, who has won a gold at the World Weightlifting Championship. Congratulations and best wishes for her future endeavours.”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Finance
Gross GST Collection in FY 2021-22 shows increasing trend
The gross GST Collection in FY 2021-22 post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak are showing an increasing trend. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Giving more details, the Minister stated the gross GST collection for FY 2020-21 and 2021-22  as under: -
|
|
Month
|
|
FY 2020-21 
|
|
FY 2021-22 
|
|
April
|
|
32172
|
|
139708
|
|
May
|
|
62151
|
|
102709
|
|
June
|
|
90918
|
|
92849
|
|
July
|
|
87422
|
|
116393
|
|
August
|
|
86449
|
|
112020
|
|
September
|
|
95480
|
|
117010
|
|
October
|
|
105155
|
|
130127
|
|
November
|
|
104963
|
|
--
|
|
December
|
|
115174
|
|
--
|
|
January
|
|
119875
|
|
--
|
|
February
|
|
113143
|
|
--
|
|
March
|
|
123902
|
|
--
|
|
Total
|
|
1136805
|
|
810816
Giving out the Gross Direct Tax collection figures for the FY 2021-22, the Minister stated that as on 23.11.2021 Gross Direct Tax collection figures for the FY 2021-22 are at Rs. 815262.7 crore showing a growth of 48.11% and 18.15% over the Gross collection figures for the corresponding period in FY 2021-22 and FY 2019-20, respectively. The Net Direct Tax Collection figures for the FY- 2021-22 as on 23.11.2021 are at Rs. 692833.6 crores showing a growth of 67.93% and 27.29% over the Net collection figures for the corresponding period FY 2020-21 and FY 2019-20, respectively as per Annexure-I, the Minister stated.
In relation to the compensation cess, the Minister stated that the GST compensation cess levied under Section 8 of the GST  Act, 2017 is transferred into a non-lapsable Fund known as GST Compensation Fund which forms part of the Public Account of India as provided in Section 10 of the Act. The States are being compensated for any loss of revenue arising on account of implementation of GST for five years out of the Compensation Fund as per Section 10 of the said Act. GST compensation for financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 has already been paid to the states, the Minister added.
The Minister stated that the economic impact of the pandemic has led to higher compensation requirement due to lower GST collection and at the same time lower collection of GST compensation cess. GST compensation of Rs. 1,30,464 crore has been released to all States/ UTs to partly meet the compensation payable for the period April’20 to March’21as the amount in GST Compensation Fund was not adequate to meet the full compensation requirement. This issue of shortfall in release in GST compensation was deliberated in 41st & 42nd GST Council meetings and accordingly, Centre had borrowed loan of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore from open market and passed on as back-to-back loan to States/UTs to meet their resource gap due to short release of GST Compensation for FY 2020-21. Similarly, as per deliberation in 43rd GST Council meeting, Centre has borrowed Rs. 1.59 lakh crore loan and passed on to the States/UTs as was done in last year. Taking into account GST compensation released to States as well as back-to-back loan, pending GST compensation to States/UTs is as per Annexure II, the Minister added.
Ministry of Education
CBSE decides to reschedule ongoing class X and XII Board Exams as precautionary measure in wake of COVID-19 virus
As a precautionary measure and on basis of instructions received from MHRD , CBSE has decided to reschedule ongoing board exams.
For more details kindly click the link
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Re-registration rules proposed to be made simpler for passenger vehicles, while re-locating from one state to another
New system of vehicle registration to be available on pilot test mode for Defence personnel, Central/State Govt employees, Central PSUs and private sector companies with offices in five or more states/UTs
The Ministry of Road Transport has issued a notification of draft rules, which would make it much easier for those shifting from one state to another to re-register their vehicles. The step comes in the context of several citizen-centric steps and an IT-based solution for vehicle registration taken by the government. However, one of the main points in the vehicle registration process that still needed attention was re-registration of a vehicle while moving to another state.
Station relocation occurs with both, Government and private sector employees. Such movements create a sense of unease in the minds of employees with regard to transfer of registration from the parent state to another state, as under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,while a person is allowed to keep the vehicle for 12 months in any state other than the state where the vehicle is originally registered, new registration with the new state-registering authority has to be made within 12 months.
A passenger vehicle user has to take these steps to re-register a vehicle:
 No Objection Certificate from the Parent State for assignment of new registration mark in another state
 Assignment of new registration mark after the road tax on pro-rata basis is paid in the new State
 Application for refund of the road tax in the parent State on pro-rata basis
The provision to get refund from the parent State on pro-rata basis is a very cumbersome process, which varies from one State to another.
With this background, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is proposing a new system of vehicle registration, wherein allocation would be marked as “IN” series- and this will be on pilot test mode. This vehicle registration facility under “IN series” will be available to Defence personnel, employees of Central Government, State Governments, Central/ State PSUs and private sector companies/organizations, which have their offices in five or more States/Union Territories. The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiple of two. This scheme will facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across any state of India upon relocation to a new state.
The draft rules have been placed on the website, inviting comments for 30 days from the date of notification, from the public/States/UTs before being finalized.